Suicide Bomber Kills 13 in Eastern Afghanistan

JALALABAD, Afghanistan (Reuters) —
Afghan policemen arrive at the site of a suicide attack in Jalalabad, Afghanistan January 17, 2016. A suicide bomber killed nine people in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad on Sunday at the home of a tribal elder when people had gathered to celebrate his son's release from Taliban captivity, local officials said. The son was killed and at least 12 people, including his father, were wounded in the attack, according to Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor. REUTERS/ Parwiz
Afghan policemen arrive at the site of a suicide attack in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, Sunday. (Reuters/Parwiz)

A suicide bomber killed 13 people in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad on Sunday at the home of a tribal elder where people had gathered to celebrate his son’s release from Taliban captivity, local officials said.

The son was killed and at least 14 people, including his father, were wounded in the attack, according to Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on his social media page denied responsibility for the attack.

There have been several bomb blasts in Afghanistan over recent weeks at a time when efforts are underway to restart a peace process with the Taliban.

Islamic State in the same city last week claimed their first attack on a major urban center in Afghanistan with an assault on the Pakistani consulate that killed seven people.

To Read The Full Story

Are you already a subscriber?
Click to log in!